FIGURES.--Pom. Mag. t. 151. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xvi. f. 5.
Fruit, small, two inches wide, and an inch and a half high; roundish-oblate. Skin, pale greenish-yellow rather thickly covered with thin grey russet, and faintly tinged with orange next the sun. Eye, small and closed, set in a shallow and rather angular basin. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, slender, and inserted in a rather shallow cavity. Flesh, yellow, juicy, sugary, brisk and richly aromatic.
A dessert apple of first-rate quality; in use during December and January.
The tree is of small dimensions, but healthy, and a prolific bearer. It is well adapted for dwarf training, when grown on the paradise or doucin stock.
This variety was raised by Mr. Padley, gardener to his Majesty George III., at Hampton Court. According to Rogers, Mr. Padley was a native of Yorkshire, and after coming to London and filling a situation of respectability, he was appointed foreman in the kitchen garden at Kew. “On the death of the celebrated ‘Capability Brown’ Mr. G. Haverfield was removed from Kew to Hampton Court, and took Mr. Padley with him as foreman. On the death of Haverfield, Padley’s interest with his sovereign out-weighed all the interests of other candidates, though urged by the most influential persons about Court. ‘No, no, no,’ said his Majesty, ‘it is Padley’s birthright.’”
IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 554. Ron. Pyr. Mal. 41.
Fruit, small; oval, and regular in its shape. Skin, almost entirely covered with dark dull red, and striped with brighter red, except a portion on the shaded side, which is green; the whole surface is thickly strewed with small russety dots, which give it a speckled appearance. Eye, small and open, set in a shallow basin. Stalk, sometimes short and fleshy as represented in the accompanying figure; and at other times, about half-an-inch long, and woody, but still retaining the swollen boss at its union with the fruit. Flesh, firm in texture, crisp, very juicy and pleasantly acid, with a sweet, brisk, and poignant flavor.
A nice sharp-flavored dessert apple; but considered only of second-rate quality; it is in use from December to March.
IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 747. Lind. Guide, 92.